A brief filmed interview (Scott Duffy interviewing actress/activist Connie Nielsen) centered on Nielsen’s Human Needs Project. Nielsen emphasizes helping others with empathy and respect that preserves recipients’ power, critiques systemic harms (colonialism, racism, economic inequality), and offers practical advice to aspiring women entrepreneurs: believe in your idea, seek networks and other women, work hard, and accept constructive criticism. The tone is reflective and advocacy-oriented.
Chapters
Hi, my name is Scott Duffy with Entrepreneur magazine and S1 Media, and I'm here today with Connie Nielsen. It's great to be with you.
Thank you.
I was just watching you talk about the Human Needs Project, and I was so inspired, and I wanted to ask, how do we help people?
I think that one of the most important things is to imagine what it's like for you when you're receiving help. Many times we are helping people in a way, and we don't realize that it's really hard to. To receive help. Many times when we give things, we don't realize that we are taking away power from somebody else. The way we can help people is really what makes the difference. If we are helping in a way that helps people get empowered, I think that that will change a lot of different things. You know, the way aid is being distributed, if we make sure that it is done in a way that really starts from a place of respect. Not from a place of pity, but from a place of respect. I think that that is what changes the feel and the experience on the part of both the recipient and of the donor.
I think sometimes when we're in a difficult position, it's hard for us to change our own perspective of what can be. Even when people are trying to help. How do we do that?
I think empathy is everything. You know, empathy. And I say. I said on stage today, I believe that true empathy has to start from a place of respect. Empathy is not just feeling sorry for the other person. It's really respecting them first and foremost and acknowledging them as a person who is as big as you. I think a lot of people like to help because it makes them feel bigger than. And they maybe don't know. So. But I think that, unfortunately, there is a certain kind of pride in helping. It would be really great if people helped from a place of humility.
And with an understanding that the person you're helping is as valuable to this world as yourself and that you helping them is really just a way of acknowledging a moral fact. And the moral fact, in my opinion, is that we all should have at least the same opportunities in this world. That's where we're coming from.
So most people probably know you from the movies that you've been in, like Wonder Woman and Gladiator and so many others. For how long have you been thinking about these issues and has giving been a focus?
You know, I often find that, you know, people want actors to get involved with various projects because you can help bring visibility, and I completely understand that. And I'm happy to help the causes that I'm, you know, a believer in, in my own small way. What I really feel that has been an incredible experience for us, for me, in terms of creating human needs project is I've been able to really explore some very deep personal ideas about what we are as human beings and what are the systems that are at work at large, economic systems, historical systems, what are the outcomes of colonialism, what kind of. And racism, for example. How is it that all of these systems are not as yet dismantled of this prior white power that it was? I feel that there's a lot of things that need to change still before we can look at a world that is not racist and that is kind of free from that. That's kind of a little bit where I come from in terms of. Of my personal ideas.
That's awesome. And I've shared with you one last question that I have two daughters, and I'm very passionate with regard to hearing women business leaders, women leaders, share their visions and inspiration to young women. If there was a woman who was thinking about starting a business today or going out there and just taking action on a cause that they were passionate about, what would you tell them?
Well, first of all, I think really seek out other women as well. You know, I think that guys do this as a normal thing. You guys are just. Your brains are set up to create all of these various hierarchies, and you do this almost seamlessly. Women, we're a little bit different, and I think we're very individualistic, even though we're also extremely collaborative. I think if I were to talk to young women right now who have ideas, I would say, first of all, believe in it. Banish that doubt, surely be open to receiving criticism, but. But really know what you believe in. Know that if you can see it, there is a very big possibility that it is actually a great idea. Just it's really up to you to allow other people to see your idea and to make that idea visible, you know, Then after that, work hard and create as much of a network as possible and share your ideas, I think.
Openly for Entrepreneur magazine and for S1 Media. Connie, we just want to say thank you.
